DUSHANBE, May 20, Asia-Plus — Abe David Gurevich, chief rabbi of Central Asia, has visited Tajikistan.
Koin Davidov, Chairman of Tajik Jewish Community, has told Asia-Plus that the main purpose of the visit is for Gurevich to negotiate with Dushanbe authorities issues related to financing, providing assistance, as well as seeking solution to the problem of reconstruction of fa?ade of the Dushanbe synagogue.
According to Mr. Davidov, during his stay in Dushanbe the chief rabbi of Central Asia met with the Dushanbe chief architect Bahrom Izzatov on May 18. Their talks focused on possible ways of seeking solution to the problem of pulling down the only synagogue in Dushanbe.
As it had been reported earlier under a new general plan for the Tajik capital the Dushanbe synagogue should be destroyed to make way for the construction of a new presidential complex in Dushanbe.
“Abe David Gurevich suggested that the synagogue building’s fa?ade should remain in the old place and be reconstructed in order to join a new composition of this part of the city,” said Mr. Davidov, “But they said that this issue may be solved only at a level of the president.”
Ave David Gurevich has left for Tashkent, where his residence is located. Koin Davidov is also supposed to leave for Tashkent one of these days to solve the issue of drawing up a letter to President Emomali Rahmonov asking not to pull down the Dushanbe synagogue.
“For religious reasons we cannot pull down the holy building that was constructed more than 100 years ago,” said Mr. Davidov, “Therefore we make every effort to find funds necessary for reconstruction of the synagogue’s fa?ade in order that it would join a harmony of the being built Palace of Nation.”
According to him, to find necessary funds representatives from the Jewish community in Central Asia intend to appeal for help to the World Bukharan Jewish Congress based in Israel.
We will recall that in May 2004, Dushanbe authorities ordered the city”s small Jewish community to vacate the country”s only synagogue by July 2004 so its site can be used for a new presidential palace. In June 2004, Abe David Gurevich, chief rabbi of Central Asia, and Dushanbe Mayor Mahmadsaid Ubaidulloyev reached an agreement on a location for the construction of a new synagogue in Dushanbe. That time, Gurevich explained that the Jewish community selected a site close to the embankment of the Dushanbinka River. However, members of Tajik Jewish community have said that they have not been given adequate compensation to enable them to build a new synagogue. They have said they cannot afford to build a new synagogue, and they say the new land, on the edge of the city, is too far away.
Tajikistan”s Jews are members of the ancient community of Tajik-speaking Bukharan Jews, who have lived in Central Asia for centuries. Tens of thousands have emigrated since the collapse of the Soviet Union. According to Koin Davidov, only about 450 families of Jews now live in Tajikistan, according to Koin Davidov.
